Friday, May 19, 2006

Are you discouraged, depressed, angry, or overwhelmed by your writing career?

Check all that apply to you:

You can't find an agent.

Your agent can't sell your book.

You can't finish your book.

You can't sell your short story.

Your book isn't selling well.

Your publisher isn't doing anything to promote you.

You got a bad review.

You didn't get any reviews.

You had a poorly attended signing/event/appearance.

You're not making enough money.

You're not making any money.

Your family and friends aren't supportive.

You keep getting rejections.

Your career is stagnant.

Your career is on the down swing.

You don't have a career.

You don't see any results from your efforts.

You no longer make an effort.

You're trying your best and nothing is working out.

If any of these apply to you, what's the solution? To keep banging your head against the wall, with no end in sight? To give up and move on? To completely change the way you're doing things? To celebrate small victories, and try to learn from failures?

No. No. No. And no.

Take a hint from poorly written characters and look at what you're doing. You're reacting.

Each of the above complaints is a reaction to something.

Reaction is passive. In fiction, passive is a no-no.

Be active.

The results of your actions are out of your hands--you have no control over them. But you have 100% control over what your do.

You got into this business for a reason. Reaching that goal involves action, not reaction.

Getting discouraged, depressed, angry, or overwhelmed isn't going to get you closer to your goal.

But writing, submitting, and promoting will get you closer. Even if you don't immediately see the results.

Don't psych yourself out of the game. A thousand mile journey begins with a single step.

As long as you keep putting one foot in front of the other, the finish line isn't simply possible.